Mad for horizontal stripes, but I've got a belly.
January 10, 2015 1:22 PM Subscribe
I'm crazy about this dress. I read the reviews, and at almost 5'3" I'm not afraid it will be too short. The thing is, I'm what is euphemistically termed an "apple" shape (big-ish pasta belly) while the rest of me is regular. I usually wear a size 16 dress.
In pregnancy terms, I might be assumed to be 4 months along. If you were me, would you buy this adorable, 100% cotton, begging-to-be-accessorized dress? I wanna. Push me one way or the other.
In pregnancy terms, I might be assumed to be 4 months along. If you were me, would you buy this adorable, 100% cotton, begging-to-be-accessorized dress? I wanna. Push me one way or the other.
Buy it!
Couple things you can do, depending on your level of comfort with you.
1) Wear it as is! You're you, and you're awesome, and who cares about a belly? You'll rock that dress!
2) Get some light 'shapewear' - a Spanx cami, or one of the Spanx Target brand (asset) - you'd be shocked how much improvement even the lightest shapewear can make
But regardless - summer is coming, that dress is adorable, and you should come back and post pictures.
posted by dotgirl at 1:28 PM on January 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
Couple things you can do, depending on your level of comfort with you.
1) Wear it as is! You're you, and you're awesome, and who cares about a belly? You'll rock that dress!
2) Get some light 'shapewear' - a Spanx cami, or one of the Spanx Target brand (asset) - you'd be shocked how much improvement even the lightest shapewear can make
But regardless - summer is coming, that dress is adorable, and you should come back and post pictures.
posted by dotgirl at 1:28 PM on January 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
Do you like the dress? Do you commonly go places and do things that would be appropriate for this dress? Do you have accessories that will go with this dress? Then get it.
Who the frak cares about "apple" shapes vs. "pear" shapes and all that garbage? I've been complimented so many times when wearing styles and colors that "shouldn't" look good on me according to fashion magazines, and seen photos of myself that looked awful in exactly the sort of clothes I'm "supposed" to be wearing.
Also, research shows that the whole "horizontal stripes make you look fat" thing is a myth. When subjects were shown pictures of people wearing horizontal stripes and asked how fat or thin they looked, results did not point to "horizontal = fatter" at all.
posted by Sara C. at 1:29 PM on January 10, 2015 [8 favorites]
Who the frak cares about "apple" shapes vs. "pear" shapes and all that garbage? I've been complimented so many times when wearing styles and colors that "shouldn't" look good on me according to fashion magazines, and seen photos of myself that looked awful in exactly the sort of clothes I'm "supposed" to be wearing.
Also, research shows that the whole "horizontal stripes make you look fat" thing is a myth. When subjects were shown pictures of people wearing horizontal stripes and asked how fat or thin they looked, results did not point to "horizontal = fatter" at all.
posted by Sara C. at 1:29 PM on January 10, 2015 [8 favorites]
It's a beautiful dress. Wear what makes you happy.
posted by arcticwoman at 1:31 PM on January 10, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by arcticwoman at 1:31 PM on January 10, 2015 [7 favorites]
Free shipping and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Go for it!
posted by teremala at 1:31 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by teremala at 1:31 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Grain of salt because I give zeros fucks about "camouflaging" my "problem areas" BUT
I think the dress is cute and if you think you'll wear it (even if it shows your belly) you should get it. A helpful mantra for me is: "It's fine, that's how my body looks." So even if you can see my belly or see a roll somewhere, well yeah of course you can see it, it's PART OF MY BODY.
Buy the dress and enjoy it!
posted by Saminal at 1:40 PM on January 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
I think the dress is cute and if you think you'll wear it (even if it shows your belly) you should get it. A helpful mantra for me is: "It's fine, that's how my body looks." So even if you can see my belly or see a roll somewhere, well yeah of course you can see it, it's PART OF MY BODY.
Buy the dress and enjoy it!
posted by Saminal at 1:40 PM on January 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Whoa..an avalanche of solidarity here. Thanks to one and all. I'm on my way back to the website to buy.
posted by BostonTerrier at 2:21 PM on January 10, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by BostonTerrier at 2:21 PM on January 10, 2015 [10 favorites]
Totally buy it! I carry weight in my midsection too -- although I am overall pretty petite -- and wear stripes that like ALL THE TIME. You should of course wear whatever you want BUT I also don't find that those stripes are unflattering the Ye Olde Apple Shape at all, either. WIN WIN.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 2:29 PM on January 10, 2015
posted by Countess Sandwich at 2:29 PM on January 10, 2015
Hi there! Apple shape, currently 14-ish, and wearing a stripey dress that looks a lot similar. It looks great on me and I adore it- it's a thick cotton jersey that basically feels like I'm wearing a nightgown but so much more put-together.
In short: go for it!
posted by Tamanna at 2:44 PM on January 10, 2015
In short: go for it!
posted by Tamanna at 2:44 PM on January 10, 2015
I'd be more concerned if the stripes were really wide. This close together, they're optically camouflaging!
posted by cecic at 2:59 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by cecic at 2:59 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm similar to you in size and shape and I have taken steps into the horizontal-stripe world this past year and am very happy with the results. I have this Talbots dress and this LL Bean shirt and they look bold and bright and graphical and, if anything, the powerful pattern detracts from paying any attention to body shape. I like throwing a short blazer-type jacket over the dress, which adds a narrow vertical line that seems to elongate, too, if you care to try that look.
posted by Miko at 4:54 PM on January 10, 2015
posted by Miko at 4:54 PM on January 10, 2015
It's very cute! This size 16 with a big belly just ordered it, so thanks for asking the question! :)
posted by firei at 4:55 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by firei at 4:55 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have a shirt from LL Bean made from the same fabric, and it's great. It's a more sturdy fabric than cotton jersey, which I like, because jersey always feels too clingy for me.
posted by MrBobinski at 5:00 PM on January 10, 2015
posted by MrBobinski at 5:00 PM on January 10, 2015
It's strange that my recent answers start with some qualification, but here it comes.
I'm a trans woman who doesn't pass (I'm still to have surgery or any treatment to modify my appearance), and I don't give a flying fuck. It's my body, I can't change it right now, and somethings I'll never be able to change, so why feel embarrassed? Join me in the zero fucks given club!
Oh, if you wear something on top, like an open light jacket, you can use it to visually crop the sides of your belly if that makes you feel more confident.
I loved the dress, by the way!
posted by Promethea at 5:25 PM on January 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm a trans woman who doesn't pass (I'm still to have surgery or any treatment to modify my appearance), and I don't give a flying fuck. It's my body, I can't change it right now, and somethings I'll never be able to change, so why feel embarrassed? Join me in the zero fucks given club!
Oh, if you wear something on top, like an open light jacket, you can use it to visually crop the sides of your belly if that makes you feel more confident.
I loved the dress, by the way!
posted by Promethea at 5:25 PM on January 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
Totally rock that dress!
(Anecdata: I also have a pasta belly, and have a dress similar to that one. I get compliments on it EVERY SINGLE TIME I wear it. Plus, super comfortable!)
posted by smangosbubbles at 5:36 PM on January 10, 2015
(Anecdata: I also have a pasta belly, and have a dress similar to that one. I get compliments on it EVERY SINGLE TIME I wear it. Plus, super comfortable!)
posted by smangosbubbles at 5:36 PM on January 10, 2015
I have a PCOS belly and like stripes. My advice, from experience, is: Wear it, but not on public transport.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 4:10 AM on January 11, 2015
posted by Perodicticus potto at 4:10 AM on January 11, 2015
Even if you do care just a bit(about belly)--forget it and look at the research. Enjoy yourself and treat yourself
posted by rmhsinc at 12:46 PM on January 12, 2015
posted by rmhsinc at 12:46 PM on January 12, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'd get a size that's a bit loose (like on the model) and experiment with belting - above your belly, right over your belly button, below your belly, etc. etc. Or you could practice self-love, embrace your shape and get a stomach-hugging fit. Cute either way IMO.
posted by muddgirl at 1:27 PM on January 10, 2015 [4 favorites]